St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-16
WILLIE PLATE STILL MOVING.
VILE PLATE, April 9Th, 1887.

VILE PLATE, April 9Th, 1887.
Editor ST. LANDRY DEMOCRAT:-Slr
since | last claimed portion OF your
space, to inform the world that there
was a town out here called Vile Plate ;
and that it was Il live town; and that 1t
had began to move itself-prompted by
the spirit of the time; | have spent
two weeks in Chicot. | found at the
latter place, few indeed OF those who
lived there in 1865, as heads OF families,
or even grown up Numbers under then
existing heads. Most OF those who
were then children ale now fathers ana
mothers and are fair reproductions OF
ers, find also large influx OF enter
Drising farmers and milimen into that
section in the last two decades.
[ found while there that all with
whom | conversational they We're
many-were deeply interested IN the
Vile Plate Tap Railroad scheme; and
are prepared to cooperate with the
people of the latter place, to insure the
success of the enterprise.
That wonderful man OF business
Capt. Sam Haas, leads the Chicotltes
being about the biggest half OF Ch,cot
and of course the other little half must
20 with the big one.
And then there is Dossman which
though counted part of Cnicot is
really a separate community, Dossman
Also moves with Vile Plate, to secure
nearer Railroad facilities. In fact ex-
cepting few disgruntled purblind
croakers,-more or less of whom are
found in every community, the whole
section contiguous to Vile Plate has
put its shoulder to the wheel to push
The cars along, the car of progress and
the steam car. On dit round here, that
certain of L. s. p. people, have said
that they have been hankerng after
this trade for long time; If that IS SO it
will not require much folcement' to
cause them to toe the line or rather to
bring up the line-tle Railroad line.
It can be shown that in spite OF the
difficulty of reaching shipping points,
to-wit long roads and bad roads there
was raised in 1886 over $4,000 barrels
of rice in sections contiguous to Vile
plate every barrel of which would ma
tnrally and unavoidably tend here for
shipment. What would be the result
tant increase, in the cultivation and
production of that cereal, We're there a
Railroad to this place, 1t were difficult
TO predict; but it is safe to say, that It
would probably reach thee or four hun
dred per cent in the course OF two OF
three years. And this would secure
without preceptable decrease In the
production of cotton, because the
population would undoubtedly increase
in about the same proportion ID the
same time, brought about by the same
the world. This rapid increase
i'm population and precincts, has
been seen along the line of the Loui-
siana Western road, tTaversing Sec
ton Of country that can by no means
be fayorably compared with Western
st. Landry. These results are to trans
pire in this section some time and why
not now? There is no valid reason for
postponing the accomplishment of
contamination so devoutly to be wished
for. On the contrary there is every
reason why it should be done right
speedily. The waves of migrating
populations are trending southwards,
and here in Western St. Landry sur
rounding Vile Plate in every direction,
are prairie lands unsurpassed for ferti-
lily by any prairie land in the world;
and wood lands comparing alike with
other wood lands. Here is salubrity Of
climate, and here is to be had good well
water, as free from infusoria as can be
found any where, sparkling and deli
cious. Given ready communication
with the world and who so bold, as to
hedge about the possible near future Of
snch a country and it's central town.
Messrs. Y. Vidrine and son assisted
by Others have compiled the product
statistics of 1886, and find them to be cot
ton 6498 bales, rice 42S00 sacks, eggs doz.
about 100000, as to the hides, while the
actual handling of hides by Vile Plate
merchants would not probably be more
than 1000, yet in this branch Of peltry,
the shipment would be enormously in
creased, with increased facilities for
shipment. You will see from the for
nation of the cnmmittees on the ac-
companying invitation card, that Vile
Plate is playing her hand alone, but
has leading men from other sections
who are moving with her.
IL you can make it convenient to be
present on the 18th instant, your pres
ence would be gratifying to the good
people of this community.
Yours for advance all along the line.
SnTnyRNEp